First ‘Blue Haven for Ukraine’ Centre Opens in Lviv to Support Mental Health of Police Officers (Video)
July 29, 2025
Police officers in Ukraine have faced relentless pressure since the full-scale invasion began – responding to air raids, securing liberated towns, and witnessing human loss on a massive scale. Behind their uniforms are people carrying unseen psychological burdens. Until now, the systems to help them cope have been limited or scattered.
On 22 July, that began to change. In Lviv, the first “Blue Haven for Ukraine” (BHU) station officially opened – a purpose-built space offering structured psychological and peer support to police officers and their families. It is part of a broader effort to embed mental health and psychosocial care into the foundation of Ukraine’s law enforcement system.
Developed in partnership between the National Police of Ukraine (NPU), EUAM Ukraine, and experts from the Netherlands, the project marks a strategic and cultural shift in how psychological well-being is treated in Ukraine’s civilian security sector. The aim is both simple and urgent: to ensure that those who protect others are not left alone with the psychological consequences of war.
A Collaborative Effort with Tangible Results
The Blue Haven for Ukraine project was officially launched in November 2024 as a joint initiative between EUAM Ukraine, the National Police of Ukraine, and Dutch partners including the Dutch National Police, ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, and Blue Haven Rotterdam. Funded by the Government of the Netherlands, the programme adapts proven EU mental health support models to meet the unique demands of wartime policing in Ukraine.
“Current Ukrainian efforts serve as an example for the world of how to address mental and psychosocial needs that are caused or aggravated by the full-scale Russian aggression”, said Ambassador Alle Dorhout of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. “The Blue Heaven Ukraine initiative can be a strong building block for such a system. The Netherlands is proud to be a partner of the NPU and EUAM in helping to making this a reality.”
The centre in Lviv is the first of several planned locations. Additional BHU facilities are scheduled to open in Kyiv, Rivne, and Vinnytsia, with mobile psychological support units in development to serve frontline and de-occupied areas.
The launch event brought together Ukrainian leadership, international partners, and field practitioners. A stakeholder seminar featured the presentation of the NPU’s new Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Concept, developed in cooperation with EUAM Ukraine. The event also marked the internal launch of the campaign “Mental Health is Another Armour” – a strategic communication effort to normalize and destigmatize mental health support within the law enforcement community.
Participants later toured the newly opened Blue Haven station located at the Administrative Centre for Rapid Police Response. The tour included an overview of the facility’s functions and a group demonstration of the “Blue Wish” exercise – an activity designed to foster peer empathy and open discussion of psychological stress.
“Mental health is not just a component of recovery – it is the foundation of strength, capacity, and long-term success,” said Rolf Holmboe, Head of Mission at EUAM Ukraine. “This initiative is about protecting those who protect others.”
Supporting Officers and Veteran Advisors
The Blue Haven facility offers professional psychological services including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing and the ‘7 Roses’ method, as well as peer-based recovery practices such as Buddy Support and Team Collegial Support. These services are delivered in a dedicated environment where confidentiality, compassion, and connection are prioritized.
The programme also supports the integration of veterans as mental health advocates within the police system. Officers like Vasyl Ivanovych, who lost an arm in battle and later joined the Lviv police as a Veteran Policy Advisor, now help shape the mental health agenda from within. Their experience gives the initiative authenticity and reach.
“This is a powerful new instrument to support those who serve under extreme stress,” said Serhiy Kobets, Deputy Head of the National Police of Ukraine. “It will help us better protect our personnel and ensure their long-term resilience.”
The opening of the Lviv station marks the first operational milestone in a national plan to build a structured, scalable mental health framework within Ukraine’s civilian security sector. The Blue Haven model is designed not only to respond to the mental health crisis intensified by war but to transform the way institutional support is delivered for years to come.
“Beyond figures and deliverables lies something more profound – a cultural shift. A message that mental health matters, and that help is here,” added Rolf Holmboe. “We are committed to building a new standard of care – one rooted in dignity, service, and strength.”
With solid partnerships, strong institutional buy-in, and growing leadership commitment, EUAM Ukraine and its partners will continue advancing this transformation – ensuring that psychological resilience is no longer optional, but foundational.
